Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Member Named to Faculty
Admiral James “Sandy” Winnefeld, the most recent vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been named a faculty member at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Winnefeld joins the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs as a Distinguished Professor. He will also serve as a senior fellow in the School’s Center for International Strategy, Technology, and Policy, which focuses on policy research.
Winnefeld will work with Georgia Tech faculty, researchers and students on a number of projects, classes, and presentations; he brings recent experience in the fields of strategy and policy, leadership, and defense investment to the Institute.
“We have already benefited greatly from Admiral Winnefeld’s expertise and experience in his role on the Georgia Tech Advisory Board, and are looking forward to his expanded role with the Institute,” said Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson. “The richness of his leadership experience and his global perspective will be invaluable to our students, faculty, and staff, along with the Atlanta community. We enthusiastically welcome him home to his alma mater.”
Winnefeld graduated from Georgia Tech in 1978 with a degree in aerospace engineering. He retired from his position as the nation’s second highest-ranking military officer on July 31. He will be based near Washington, D.C., at the Georgia Tech Research Institute’s office in Rosslyn, Virginia. Winnefeld will also have an office on the Georgia Tech campus in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.
“I am very pleased to join the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and CISTP,” said Winnefeld. “I've long been an admirer of Senator Nunn's, and look forward to working with and continuing to learn from him. I’m also excited to lend my energy and experience to a very talented group of faculty and students. It’s especially gratifying to be able to do so at an institution that gave so much to me as an undergraduate.”
Prior to his role at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he served as the commander of United States Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). He also commanded the United States Sixth Fleet and NATO Allied Joint Command, Lisbon. His new title, Distinguished Professor, is the same as Nunn, the former U.S. Senator for whom the Institute’s School of International Affairs is named.
“Admiral Winnefeld is one of our nation’s most distinguished and valuable military leaders, and is now returning to his home base at Georgia Tech,” said Nunn. “This is great news for the Nunn School and the Institute. Sandy will continue to render invaluable service to our nation by working with our students and faculty as they tackle some of our most important international and technological challenges.”
Winnefeld’s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, and five Battle Efficiency awards.